[pct-l] Alcohol stove-cold weather-high altitude question

[Alistair and Gail Des Moulins]

Monty

I can definitely confirm succesfully operating an alcohol stove ( a fat Pika 
see http://users.sisqtel.net/losthiker/pikastove/ ) in the following 
conditions on the CDT in Northern Colorado during September 2006.
8000' at 19F,
8040' at 21F,
10670' at 30F,
10400' at 32F
Night time temperatures are often cooler in valleys than on ridges hence the 
lower temperatures at lower altitudes.
In the colder temperatures it does take longer to light the alcohol, so 
instead of quickly flicking the lighter above the fuel, one has to hold the 
lighter above the fuel for a couple of seconds or so.
At the 10670' location I had to melt snow for water and the stove was very 
capable of doing that, but the penalty is that it will take about double the 
normal volume of fuel to get your 2 cups of water.

Alistair

> Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:03:56 -0700
> From: "montypct" <montypct at gmail.com>
> Subject: [pct-l] Alcohol stove-cold weather-high altitude question
> To: "PCT-L" <pct-l at backcountry.net>
> Message-ID: <1b6101c88f6b$c581f440$23e193c6 at Monty>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Has anyone here used an alcohol stove at 9000 feet in temperatures of 
> 15-25 degrees?
>
> I'm backpacking up near Mammoth this weekend and need to make a stove 
> choice.
>
> My main objective is snowshoe in, set up camp and boil two cups of water.
>
> My alternatives.......... solid fuel (no) ........................ a white 
> gas Seva 123.............. or alcohol.
>
> Thanks
>
> Monty
>